Varangoi were the ultimate assault troops of the Roman army, terrorizing their enemies with both their double handed war axe, as well as with their outwardly appearance. Chosen among the best of the Skandinavian warriors, Anglo-saxon exiled gentry, and Russian Viking descendants, it has been rumoured that there were bribes involved for applicants to be selected into the Varangoi force, or Etaireia as it would be called. Armed with their hallmark war axe, Varangoi wore a “bambakion” which is a ¾ inch wide or more cotton cloth padded gambeson, an extra “lorikion” chain mail or scale armor hauberk up to their face, and on top of that an “epilorikion” (quilted cloth armor gambeson designed to absorb blunt trauma, like that of a mace). Sometimes they would add extra layers of either scale or mail hauberk or cloth gambeson, or change the order in which those armor layers were worn. A mail gorget would supplement their armor by protecting their neck. They didn’t maintain a “proper” way to dress, and not many cared about that. Their employers never complained about their appearance. A common feature of their armor though was a mail gorget, that all units had for neck protection. They wear a multitude of helmets, with the Viking Visor helmet as a distinctive feature of sorts. Christians they were, still their shields would be emblazoned with the black crow, the holy bird of Odin. They are armed with a heavy war axe with a medium circular shield attached to their left hand, which is slung on their back when they assault the enemy. They are expensive mercenary troops and maintaining huge numbers of them would ruin the empire, but if there is a unit that could attack any target and make them run away screaming, it would be the Varangoi. Varangoi warrior tradition in the “Milkagard” “city of gold” (as those troopers called Konstantinoupolis) began with Basileios II the Boulgaroktonos (bulgarslayer). He got 6000 of them as mercenary warriors. After using them in battle, in which they distinguished themselves, it wouldn’t be long before an exclusive guard of those would be formed to guard the emperor. They were no praitorians though, paid to throne or dethrone Kings. If anything their dedication and loyalty was exemplary. The money they would make was also the stuff of legend. The high pay and salary of the Varangoi was cited at around 150-170 nomismata or hyperpyra (coins) per annum in addition to bonuses and campaign loot. Still, in order to become a Varangos, one must first pay an entrance fee to the chief of the guard. Fortunately, that investment can be recouped very quickly after a few years of service. One of their leaders Harald “Hardråde” Sigurdsson, wound up in the Norwegian throne as Harald the III. His ascenscion was owed partly to the loot he had gathered as leader of the Varangoi, especially when serving in a combined Roman force that under Georgios Maniakes reclaimed Western Sicily for the Roman Empire in 1038. Varangoi would obey the Emperor’s orders to a letter, and guard him until death. Both in Manzikert and in the fall of Konstantinoupolis at 1204 they were the first ones to fight and the last ones to keep fighting, after almost anyone else had either surrendered or fled. Their numbers and ethnological make were in constant flux. In time more Anglosaxon recruits would make Varangoi an exclusive English force (sometimes they are mentioned as Inglovarangoi or Anglovarangoi), whereas in another situation, a successful recruitment drive in Scandinavia saw the Norvegian, Swedish even Icelander numbers among them swell . Russian Viking descendants were always a mainstay of Varangoi. The Emperor of the Roman Empire wasn’t the only one they served. Vladimir I of Kiev, i.e. the Prince of Kievan Rus, is mentioned to have "Varangians" in his service, it is probable that they didn’t come from his own country but either directly from Scandinavia or from the Roman Empire after being in the service of the Emperor at Konstantinoupolis. Their love for heavy drinking was

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The Eastern Roman Empire

Varangian Warriorsheavy infantryHeavy axemen mercenaries, legendary in their own right. Their double handed waraxe and their ferocious assault can’t be beaten

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Varangian Warriorsheavy infantryHeavy axemen mercenaries, legendary in their own right. Their double handed waraxe and their ferocious assault can’t be beaten